Bellarmine College Preparatory Seniors Honored for Academic Achievement; Eighteen Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

News Editors/Education Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2004

Bellarmine College Preparatory today announced a number of honors for academic excellence for the class of 2004. Each year, consistently over 97% of the graduating class at Bellarmine College Preparatory goes on to attend university. In recognition of their academic achievement, eighteen Bellarmine seniors have been named Finalists in the 2004 National Merit Scholarship Program. In addition, a number of other seniors have been recognized for their hard work and dedication during their careers at Bellarmine.

Selected from over 16,000 semifinalists, the National Merit Scholarship finalists were chosen from among the entire nation as some of the most able students in this year's list of high school graduates. The awards, considered one of the preeminent academic achievements for high school seniors, evaluate students based on academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school recommendations, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay. A complete list of Finalists from Bellarmine follows below.

In addition to the Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, Jamon Osby, Aaron Pinkston and Ronald Jelani Young were awarded scholarships by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara County at the annual celebration of Rev. Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Day in San Jose. These students are testament to Dr. King's vision of a future where character and achievements, not color, determines a person's worth. Jamon, Aaron and Ronald work to give back to the community as well as continue strong academic records.

Seattle University, the largest independent university in the Pacific Northwest and ranked among the top ten universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report, has selected TJ Sheehy as one of seven Sullivan Leaders. A Jesuit institution, Seattle University educates and challenges its students in the Ignatian tradition, encouraging its students to grow personally and spiritually, to be men and women for others. As a Sullivan Leader, TJ has been awarded a full 4-year scholarship for his community involvement and efforts to promote social justice. In addition to his academic endeavors, TJ, along with his fellow Sullivan Leaders, will work to develop a model of leadership for service to others during his coming four years at Seattle University.

"We're very proud of all our students here at Bellarmine," said Mark Pierotti, Principal at Bellarmine. "It's rewarding for the entire faculty and staff when our students are recognized by outside institutions for their wonderful achievements and dedication to service to others. I know we all look forward to seeing more students honored in the coming months as seniors hear back from universities across the country."

Bellarmine National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists

Alan Ai

Jeffrey Barry

Karan Bhople

Augustine Choy

Alex D'Amour

Nicholas Drbal

Aron Gera

David Ho 

Ray Tsu

Christopher Jackson 

Brian Lee 

Nicholas Lee

Jefferson Lin

Jeffrey Lundy

Justin Pollard

Ajay Reddy

David Sepetka

Andrew Wong 

About Bellarmine College Preparatory

Bellarmine College Preparatory has been educating young men since 1851, when it was originally founded on the same campus as Santa Clara University. The school has been at its current location on West Hedding in San Jose's College Park district for 78 years. Bellarmine students are educated in the Jesuit tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and are encouraged to become "men for others." While Bellarmine strives for academic excellence, the school also seeks to instill a sense of responsibility through a variety of community ministry and Christian Service Programs. Bellarmine has a current enrollment of 1450 and a faculty/staff of 150.